Rhododendron plant named ‘Kuraangel’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plant named ‘Kuraangel’. The variety is botanically identified as Rhododendron hybrid. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of properties, including but not limited to, corolla lobe color.

Latin name of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Rhododendron hybrid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of Japanese Plant Variety Protection Application No. 33197, filed on Jun. 20, 2018, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘Kuraangel’ originated from the controlled cross of the plants ‘Wedding Bouquet’ and ‘Purple Splendor’ performed in April 2003 in Anoucho, Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan. In 2007, the new variety having large pink, nicely shaped flowers with beautiful spots was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated controlled cross-pollination in Anoucho, Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan. As a result of tissue cultures in 2012 and trial production in the field, ‘Kuraangel’ was determined as being an excellent variety with beautiful blooms in 2016, and breeding was completed.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plant named ‘Kuraangel’. The variety is botanically identified as Rhododendron hybrid. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth below.

When compared to the ‘Mrs. Fujii’ (not patented) variety having blossoms with a primary color that is pale pink, almost white (R.H.S. colour chart N74D) and a secondary color that is a very pale purple (R.H.S. colour chart 76D), the blossoms of the new variety of the present invention, ‘Kuraangel’ do not have a secondary color and exhibit attractive blossoms with a single light purple color (R.H.S. colour chart N75B) with strong independent spots (R.H.S. colour chart 42A). The annual blooming time for ‘Kuraangel’ is about 10 days later than ‘Mrs. Fujii’. ‘Kuraangel’ has larger and particularly longer leaves (about 12 centimeters (cm) in length and about 3.5 cm in width) compared to ‘Mrs. Fujii’ (about 10 cm in length and about 2.5 cm in width). The branch color of a one-year old plant of ‘Kuraangel’ is pale green (R.H.S. colour chart 143C), whereas the branch color of a one-year old plant of ‘Mrs. Fujii’ is dark red purple, almost brown (R.H.S. colour chart 180A). ‘Kuraangel’ has a smaller truss size (about 15 cm in diameter and about 15 cm in height) than ‘Mrs. Fujii’ (about 25 cm in diameter and about 20 cm in height). ‘Kuraangel’ has fewer corolla per truss, about 12, than ‘Mrs. Fujii’, about 15, but the size of the corolla of ‘Kuraangel’ is similar (about 10 cm in length, about 10 cm in height, and about 7 cm in thickness) to ‘Mrs. Fujii’ (about 10 cm in length, about 10 cm in height, and about 5 cm in thickness). Strong independent spots are present on the surface of the corolla of ‘Kuraangle’, whereas spots are absent on ‘Mrs. Fujii’.

‘Kuraangel’ can be compared to its female parent ‘Wedding Bouquest’ (Japanese Plant Variety Protection Application No. 13565, filed on Jun. 18, 2001, Registration No. 13397), and its male parent ‘Purple Splendor’ (not patented). ‘Wedding Bouquet’ has white flowers that bloom on April 10. ‘Purple Splendor’ has dark purple flowers that bloom on May 5. In contrast, ‘Kuraangel’ has light purple color flowers (R.H.S. colour chart N75B) with strong independent spots (R.H.S. colour chart 42A) that bloom on April 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 illustrates the upper side of the flowers and the plant;

FIG. 2 illustrates a full view of the cultivation area showing the leaves of the plant;

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the flower;

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up of the dissected flower; and

FIG. 5 illustrates, for comparison, the upper side of the flowers and the plant of ‘Mrs. Fujii’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants grown in Anoucho, Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan. Observations of ‘Kuraangel’ were taken during the 2007 growing season.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendrum hybrid. -   Principle use: Flowering shrub for potted plant and open-field     cultivation. -   Parentage: The female parent is ‘Wedding Bouquet’, and the male     parent ‘Purple Splendor’. -   Propagation: The new variety was propagated using tissue cultures     from plants potted in greenhouse facilities in Anoucho, Tsu-shi,     Mie-ken, Japan. Growth points were collected from lateral buds of     shoots, and cultivation and growth were performed without using     calli. -   Plant:     -   -   Size.—At 3 years of age, plants of the new variety commonly             exhibit a height of approximately 40-50 cm and a width of 30             cm.         -   Habit.—Vigorous and compact. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Foliage arrangements are pseudoverticillate or             false verticillate, appearing whorled or verticillate, but             not actually so.         -   Type.—Evergreen flowering shrub, simple lanceolate leaves             with an obtuse leaf base, oblong body, acute apex, and             obtuse margins. The upper surfaces of the leaves appear             semi-glossy, and the bottom surfaces of the leaves appear             matte.         -   Venation.—Leaves have a netted (reticulate) venation             pattern. R.H.S. colour chart 150D on the upper surface of             the leaves, and R.H.S. colour chart 150C on the bottom             surface.         -   Size.—Mature leaves growing midway up the stem commonly are             approximately 12 cm in length and approximately 3.5 cm in             width.         -   Color.—R.H.S. colour chart NN137B on the upper surface, and             R.H.S. colour chart 143C on the under surface. -   Petioles:     -   -   Size.—2.0 cm in length, and 3.0 millimeters (mm) in             diameter.         -   Texture.—Rough with bristles.         -   Color.—R.H.S. colour chart 58B. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Mature lateral branches (one-year old wood) are 2.0 m             in length and 7.0 mm in diameter.         -   Internode length.—Mature lateral branches (one year old             wood) have a 1.0 cm internode length.         -   Texture.—Mature lateral branches (one year old wood) are             rough with bristles.         -   Color.—Mature lateral branches (one-year old wood) — R.H.S.             colour chart 143C. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Size.—Approximately 3.0 cm in length and 2.5 mm in diameter.         -   Color.—R.H.S. colour chart 178B. -   Petals:     -   -   Shape.—Petals are generally wavy with a connected base and             sharply pointed apex.         -   Size.—Approximately 8.0 cm in length and 4.0 cm in width.         -   Texture.—Both surfaces of the petals are generally smooth. -   Sepals: None. -   Flowers:     -   -   Period.—Blooms approximately April 15 in the evening when             cultured at Anoucho, Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan.         -   Appearance.—Corymb.         -   Arrangement.—Spheroidal.         -   Truss shape.—Generally a sphere.         -   Truss size.—Approximately 15 cm diameter, and approximately             15 cm in height.         -   Corolla per truss.—Approximately 12.         -   Corolla shape.—Open funnel shape.         -   Corolla size.—Approximately 10 cm in length, 10 cm in width,             and 7 cm in thickness.         -   Number of lobes.—Five lobes per floret.         -   Margin of lobes.—Wavy to frilly.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Calyx size.—Approximately 2 millimeters (mm) in length.         -   Flower bud shape.—Lacrimoid.         -   Flower bud size.—Approximately 4.0 mm in length and 2.5 cm             in diameter.         -   Flower bud color.—R.H.S. colour chart 75A.         -   Flower color.—One color on the surface of the corolla lobe,             with the same color on both the upper and lower surfaces.             The surfaces of the corolla lobe is light purple (R.H.S.             colour chart N75B). Strong, independent spots (R.H.S. colour             chart 42A) are present on the throat of the corolla lobe. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—10.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 5.0 cm.         -   Filament color.—R.H.S. colour chart 155C.         -   Anther shape.—Barrel shaped.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Anther color.—R.H.S. colour chart 155A.         -   Pollen amount and color.—High pollen count and R.H.S. colour             chart 155A.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Captiform.         -   Stigma color.—R.H.S. colour chart 159A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Style color.—R.H.S. colour chart 155D.         -   Ovary color.—R.H.S. colour chart 178A. -   Winter hardiness: Has survived winters with temperatures as low as     −3° C. in Anoucho, Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan. -   Disease resistance: During observations to date, the foliage has     been disease resistant. Although generally, Rhododendron hybrid     plants are prone to root rot disease, which tends to occur in high     temperatures, ‘Kuraangel’ is resistant to root rot because it is     resistant to high temperatures. -   Successive generations: Reproduces true to type in successive     generations as set forth above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rhododendron hybrid plant, substantially as shown and described. 